Cronje returns from 2-year absence with victory at SA Run 4 Cancer Ultra Marathon
As the nation's top runners rested after last week's Sanlam Cape Town Marathon or before Sunday's African Bank Soweto Marathon, a somewhat watered down field lined up for the 2024 SA Run 4 Cancer Ultra Marathon on Saturday (26 October). In the absence of defending champion Onalenna Khonkhobe who will be in action in Soweto in six days' time, Victor Kepkemei emerged victorious in a clocking more than 14 minutes slower than the time Khonkhobe ran to win the 2023 event which is run between the R71 Steven Lumber Intersection and the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane.
The Kenyan breasted the finishing tape in 2:52:19 which was ten seconds ahead of Reuben Mosiane as Sifiso Nqumakhwe took third (3:00:16) to secure a Nedbank Running Club sweep of the podium. Kipkemei admitted that the lack of seasoned top runners contributed to the slow finishing time. "The race was not very competitive so I tried to push and win. The weather was good and the race was well organised. I'd like to thank all of those who made the race happen. Hopefully the prize money will be increased so we can run faster and break that 2:37 in future," he told #TheTopRunner.
The women’s race was won by Martinique Cronje of Pietersburg Road Runners. Returning from a two year hiatus after giving birth, Cronje surprised herself by beating Comrades Marathon gold medalist Galaletsang Mekgoe to take line honours in 3:31:50 to Mekgoe's 3:34:57. Cronje née Potgieter, who claimed a 7:41 finish at the 2018 Comrades Marathon said her objective was the use the race as a litmus test to gauge how her training for the 2025 Ultimate Human Race is progressing.
"It was a lovely race. I’m just so thankful to be here and to be running again. This is the first race that I’ve run in two and a half years so I’m happy. I took a break when I fell pregnant and now that my baby is eight months old, I’m back. I’ve been in training for about three months now. It’s not the easiest course. It’s got some hills which made it challenging, but my plan was just to run how I feel. Luckily today, I had a good day overall and I’m happy with the time."
For their efforts both Kipkemei and Cronje will be rewarded with R75 000, which is a 25% reduction in the R100 000 bagged by last year's winners following the last minute withdrawal of the Limpopo Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation as the main sponsor. Nevertheless, the race organisers were pleased with the 2024 event saying that while they are happy about the elite athletes that participated in the 48km race, the main goal of the event is to raise cancer awareness in Limpopo.
"Limpopo is one of the province's that lack of health services especially for cancer, which is still of serious concern. So we have chosen this province where we run an annual awareness campaign in the different districts across Limpopo. We have already been to Sekhukhune and Mopani will be making our way to other districts as well. Lately we are dealing with breast cancer because during our campaigns more women are coming forward to engage us," said Lerato Matlala speaking ahead of the 2024 SA Run 4 Cancer Ultra Marathon.
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